Sixteen members of the committee, first established under President Ronald Reagan, resigned together Friday in protest of Trump's comments on the violence in Charlottesville, Va. The commission is made up of representatives from Broadway, Hollywood, and the broader arts and entertainment community. The other members had already resigned after Trump was elected in November.

Actor Kal Penn, a member of the panel, tweeted the letter Friday morning.

"The administration's refusal to quickly and unequivocally condemn the cancer of hatred only further emboldens those who wish America ill," the letter said. "We cannot stand idly by, the way that your West Wing advisers have, without speaking out against your words and actions."

Since Trump was elected, "resist" has been used as part of a campaign by Democrats to oppose Trump's agenda.